Underground liquefied gas dispensing system



Sept. 5, 1944. J. WHITE UNDERGROUND LIQUEFIED GAS DISPENSING SYSTEM Filed Oct. 1 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 5, 1944. L. J. WHITE UNDERGROUND LIQUEFIED GAS DISPENSING SYSTEM Filed Oct. 12, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 5, 1944. L. J. WHITE 2,357,777

UNDERGROUND LIQU'EFIED GAS DISPENSING SYSTEM Filed Oct. 12, 1939- 3 Sheets-Sheet :5

v, a HI 49 1 /5 ll H I #8 zz nn l l ,l l

Patented Sept. 5, 1 944 UNDERGROUND LIQUEFIED GAS DISPENSING SYSTEM Loyd J. White, San Antonio, Tex., assignor to Southern Steel Company, San Antonio, Tex., a

corporation of Texas Application October 12,- 1939, Serial No. 299,212

7 Claims.

This invention relates to underground liquefied gas dispensing systems of, the type embodying a storage tank buried in the ground below thefrost line in heat exchanging relation with the surrounding earth to dispense butane gas and the like under pressure. One of the main objects of this invention is to provide important improvements on the type of systems disclosed in reissue Patent No. 20,624 and Patents 2,121,673, 2,121,675. and 2,176,829. In the systems disclosed in said patents, the dispensing appurtenances, including the pressure regulator, are disclosed as being housed within a. ventilated protecting casing partially buried in the ground above the tank. One of the main purposes of this invention is to eliminate the necessity for any protecting casing, by making the dispensing appurtenances accessible ments are equally applicable to-systems designed to discharge the gasln the liquidphase from a storage tank as clearly shown in Patent 2,176,829.

In the present instance, -'a storage tank I9 is purtenances, including a filling valve l3, a vapor return valve It, a pressure relief valve l5, 9.

' manually operable cut-oil valve 56, a liquid level above the ground and by providing a pressure reducing regulator buried in the ground, preferably adjacent to the tank, with means to adjust it, also accessible from'above the ground level.

The idea is to decrease the cost of such installations and to utilize heat absorbed by the regulator from the surrounding earth fill or ground as well as the tank to help vaporize or revaporize the gas passing therethrough. Another aim of the invention is to provide in asystem of the general type disclosed in Patent 2,121,675, embodying a unitary valved head, a tamper-proof and weather-proof hood or shield for the various valves and appurtenances above ground, as well as the means for adjusting theregulator.

Other aims and advantages of the invention will appear in the specification, when considered in' connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 ice side elevation, partly in section, showing one form of system embodying the improvements locked on the head.

Referring particularly-to the drawings, the type of system there shown for illustrative purposes, is generally like that disclosed in Patent 2,121,675.

However, it is to be understood that the improvegauge i7 and a pressure gauge 18. The fitting has a service nipple l9 projecting downwardly from one sid and is connected to a service pipev 20 preferably by means of an ordinary union coupling 2!. The service pipe extends downwardly into the ground to a point adjacent to the level of the top of the tank and it extends horizontally underground to the point of use. Immediately above the tank and preferably supported on it near the standpipe ii, there is shown a pressure reducing regulator 22 which, in this instance, lies horizontally and is buried in the ground in heat exchanging relation with the surrounding earth as well as the tank. I Herein, it rests directly on top of the tank. This regulator is preferably substantially the same as that shown in the aforesaid Patent 2,121,675. In this instance, however,

. it is necessary to provide for adjustment of the regulator without removing the earth fromit and, incidentally, to provide for venting it to the at--' mosphere. It is shown in'sectionin Fig. 2 and embodies the usual spring-urged diaphragm 23 for operating a pressure reducing valve (not shown), and a low pressure relief valve 24. It will be understood that the low pressure gas. is admitted from the pipe section '20 to the lower chamber of the regulator casing and passes out throughthe service pipe to the point of use. It has heretofore been customary to provide an ad- Justing screw to vary the compression of the diaenlarged sleeve 34 slipped on its upper end and this sleeve has a shoulder 35 intermediate its ends to rest on the tube. A wrench end 36 on the flexible shaft projects partially through the sleeve and is adapted to be engaged by a special socket wrench inserted in a counterbore 31. The end 36 has an annular shoulder 38 resting in the bottom of the counterbore.

In this instance, the protecting tube for the flexible shaft is also used as a vent and'breather conduit for the regulator. To that end, the sleeve is shown as having vent openings 39 extending.

from the outside of the counterbore downwardly and inwardly to communicatewith the upper end of the tube 32. The usual vent conduit 40 in the regulator leading from the low pressure relief valve is closed by a screw plug 4| and the breather conduit 42 in the casing is utilized to discharge any vented gas through the upper chamber of the regulator and the protecting tube 32. The adjusting follower nut or spring-retainer 21 is shown as having perforations or openings 43 to permit the gas to pass freely into the lower end of the tube, it being understood that sufilcient space is provided between the flexible shaft and the tube fittings to permit the gas to fiow freely through the tube.

To protect the fitting and its valves and safety appurtenances, as well as the regulator adjusting shalt from the weather, as well as to prevent unauthorized tampering with the valves, there is shown a. metal hood or shield 44, preferably of the same general contour as the fitting, and adapted to he slipped over it; although it may be hingedly connected to it. It is open at the bottom and is adapted to be locked place. For that purpose, there is shown a locking bar or pin 45 extending through an opening 46 in one side Wall of the hood near the bottom and an opening 41 in an ear or web 48 formed on the lower side of the lateral service outlet branch 49 of the fitting. The free end of the bar or pin is shown as being pointed and adapted to engage:

a socket 50 formed in the inside wall of the hood opposite from the opening 46. The outerend of the pin is shown as being bent at right angles and provided with an eye 5| and the hood'is shown as having a lateral web 52 on which the eye is adapted to rest and it has an opening to receive the staple of an ordinary lock 54.

The joints between the protecting tube 32 for the flexible shaft and the regulator casing are made watertight and the upper end of the shaft is housed within the shield, so that no water can enter the regulator. Since the earth fill above the tank and around the regulator becomes ,water-soaked and promotes rust, as well'as pitting,

' it is desirable to cover the regulator casing and the joints with some suitable rust-proof material or coating, such as tar or bituminous ma- 4 terial. However, it is contemplated that the easing may bemade of rust-proof metal or plastic From the foregoing description, it will be understood that the system can be very easily installed and the expense of manufacture, as well as installation is greatly reduced by the elimination of a vented casing. It is also contemplated that the tank, standpipe and the valved fitting and the regulator may be assembled at the factory and shipped to the point of installation by providing a suitable temporary protecting crate or shield for the protruding parts. In fact, the tank may be partially filled with liquefied gas for instant use after the installation is made.

' Obviously, the present invention is not restricted to the particular embodiment thereof.

herein shown and described. Moreover, it is not indispensable that all the features of the invention be used conjointly, since they may be employed advantageously in various combinations and sub-combinations.

What 'is claimed is:

1. In an underground liquefied gas dispensing system of the class described, a storage tank buried below the frost line; a standpipe con-- nected to the tank and extending through the earth fill to a, point adjacent to the ground level;

a valved filling and dispensing fitting on the standpipe; a service pipe connected to the fitting and leading downwardly into the ground to a depth below the 'frost line; and a pressure reducing regulator in the service pipe also buried in the ground closely adjacent to the tank.

2. A liquefied gas dispensing system of the class described comprising, in combination, a storage tank buriedin the ground; a riser pipe connected tothe tank; a valved fitting connected to the riser pipe and accessible from above the ground; a service pipe connected to the fitting and'extending underground; a pressure reducing regulator in the service pipe also buried in the ground, so that the gas therein can absorb some heat from the earth; and an air vent for the regulator leading to the atmosphere.

3. A liquefied gas dispensing system of the class described comprising, in combination, a storage tank buried in the ground; a riser pipe connected to the tank; a valved fitting connected to the riser pipe and accessible from above the ground; a service pipe connected to the fitting and extending underground; a pressure reducing regulator in the service pipe adjacent to the top of the tank and to the riser pipe and also buried in the ground; and means connected to adjust the regulator extending upwardly through and also accessible from above the ground.

4. A liquefied gas dispensing system of the class described comprising, in combination, a storage't'ank buried in the ground;- a riser pipe connected to the tank; a valved fitting connected to the riser pipe and accessible from above the ground; a service pipe connected to the fitting and extending underground; a pressure reducing regulator in the service pipe also buried in the ground adjacent to the tank; a tube connected to the regulator casing and extending above the ground level adjacent to' said fitting; and a mateiial, or may be covered with any suitable rust resisting sheet material, such as "Cellophane, asphalt or the like.

flexible shaft in said tube connected to adjust the regulator.

5. A liquefied gas dispensing system of th class described comprising, in combination, a' storage tank buried in the ground; a riser pipe connected to the tank; a valved fitting connected to the riser pipe and accessible from above the ground; a service pipe connected to the fitting and extending underground; a pressure reducing regulator in the service pipe also buried in the ting and the upper end of said flexible adjusting ground adjacent to the tank: a tube connected to the regulator casing and extending above the ground level adjacent to said fitting; and a flexible shaft in said tube connected to adjust the regulator, said tube being connected to the regulator casing to provide a vent to the atmosphere.

6. A liquefied gas dispensing system of the class described comprising, in combination, a storage tank buried in the ground; a riser pipe connected to the tank; a valved fitting connected to the riser pipe and accessible from above the ground; a service pipe connected to the fitting and extending underground; 9. pressure reducing regulator in the service pipe also buried in the ground adjacent to the tank; a vent tube connected to the regulator casing and, extending and extending underground; 9. pressure reducing shaft. v a I. A liquefied gas dispensing system of the class described comprising, in combination, a

storage tank buried in the ground; a riser pipe connected to the tank; a valved fitting connected to th riser pipe and accessiblefrom above the ground; a service pipe connected "to the fitting regulator in the service pipe also buried in the ground adjacent to the tank: a tube connected 1 to the regulator casing and extending above the ground level adjacent to said fitting; a flexible shaft in said tube connected to adjust the regulater; a protecting hood for the fitting and the upper end of said flexible adjusting shaft; and means to lock said hood on the fitting.

LOYDJ. WHITE. 

